AORN multispecialty conference and Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association hold joint conference in Nashville

AORN Journal, Jan, 2001 by Brenda S. Gregory Dawes

Her experiences resulted in implementing an evacuation plan for the pediatric population. Hogan emphasized the need for direction and control; requiring individuals to assume responsibility for emergency measure coordination; establishing an emergency management team; defining personnel duties, procedures, and responsibilities; and determining equipment and supply needs. At the time of the disaster, hospital staff members had been through extensive year 2000 planning, which prepared them for external factors (eg, generators, altered communication needs). Hogan stressed the critical elements that resulted in positive outcomes for hospitalized children at the time of the disaster and emphasized the need for a coordinated plan.

Informative cost savings. Steve Polte, BS, MBA, described reliable methods for achieving supply cost savings during the presentation "Managing Supply Costs: Leveraging the Power of Information." He defined supply data, described how they are used, and explained how a manager can leverage supply data to yield improvement. An overview of supply data descriptions and elements, units of measure and conversions, and communication of consistent information between two or more systems to help start processes was described. From that point, Polte led the group through preference card building and maintenance to provide data that yield improvements, standardization, and analysis.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) update. Carole H. Patterson, RN, MN, shared the new and revised standards for 2001 and revisions to the survey process. Patterson emphasized the revised JCAHO mission statement "to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided ... through provision of accreditation, education, and consultation services" as she reviewed changes in the survey process. In 2001, surveyors will focus on emergency preparedness, peer review additions, utilization management, clinical practice guidelines, and pain assessment and management. The 2001 surveys also will address pain standards and emergency management, in addition to new restraint standards.

Patterson described the sedation requirements that were added to the anesthesia standards, including the four levels of sedation and the need for qualified individuals to be responsible for monitoring the procedure, administering sedation or anesthesia, and rescuing the patient. She described the evolution and supportive documentation that identifies the need for incorporating standards for pain assessment and management, in addition to scoring criteria and leadership responsibilities for incorporating pain standards.

Receiving deemed status. Beverly Kirchner, RN, BSN, CNOR, provided a thorough review of accreditation requirements to achieve deemed status. The Health Care Financing Act defines an ASC as a distinct entity that operates exclusively for the purpose of proving surgical services to patients not requiring hospitalization. Those ASCs must have an agreement with the Health Care Financing Administration to participate in Medicare as an ASC and meet the condition for coverage as defined by regulation.